Pageant participants aim to strengthen community ties.

Windsor-Essex County pageant participant fundraisers are affecting the community in a positive way.

These pageant queens are conducting fundraisers themselves, as well as taking part.  Most Canadian pageant contestants are require to do good deeds in their communities. These efforts could affect the outcome of who wins.

Chantel Giamanco believes that being in a pageant is not just about beauty.

“It’s more about service to the community and being a role model and making a difference,” said Giamanco.

Jillian Parent, 24, is the 2014 Miss Tecumseh pageant winner.  She has been a part of many fundraisers including Running for Cancer, Terry Fox Run, Princess Ball for Cystic Fibrosis, and more.  She and her family also hold an annual Breast Cancer fundraiser to honour her mom, and is having a pasta dinner and fashion show for the SickKids Foundation.  She said being in pageants has taught her the power of volunteering and how awesome it is work with people who share the same passion.  Parent also said that even a small amount of money raised makes the world of difference.

“I strongly believe we have such a huge effect on the community due to our passion for a wide selection of charities ranging from locally to worldwide.  Fundraisers that we participate in are mostly supporting a good cause or focusing on a certain aspect of what we can do that help out,” said Chelsea Girard.

Girard is a 17-year-old and has been doing pageants since she was 15.  She is also the 2014 Miss Teen Windsor, she has organized going to the pediatric floor of Windsor Regional Hospital just before Easter to bring bags of toys to children who wouldn’t be home for Easter.  She also organized H.O.P.E (Helping Our People Eat) and was a part of the Downtown Mission Princess Ball in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada committee.

“For example, when children are involved, our queens focus on what goes through a child’s mind when they see us helping in the community.  We live to be role models and bring awareness to our main focuses, charity, community involvement and they strive to make a difference in the world,” said Girard.

“I get asked all the time to attend different events because the children or youth who attend use that as a learning opportunity,” said Parent.  “I get the chance to be a positive role model for those youth that may not have someone close to them with values like that to follow.”

These pageant queens prove to be an influential role model for young girls through their continuing involvement in the community.